Washing machine



Dec. 8,1925. 1,565,104

G. E. HANDLES WASHING MACHINE 'Filed May 27, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Inventor 6eogge E. Hand/es,

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G. E. RANDLES WASHING momma Filed May 2'7, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a l wr.

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Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES I 1,565,104 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. HANDLES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOOTE-BURT COM-PANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed May 27, 1924. Serial No. 716,254.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. RANnLns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Vashing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to motor-operated washing machines, andespecially to washing machines of the suction cup or poun'der typewherein the washing is performed by suction cups or bells which arecarried by a reciprocating plunger rod and are brought down intoengagement with the material being washed, and wherein there is provideda clutch for connecting the motor to and disconnecting it from theoperating means for the plunging rod.

In connection with such machines it is desirable when clothing is in thetub being washed, that when the clutch is thrown from in to out positionto stop the washing machine, that the plunger rod should stop at the topof its stroke and be held in such position, so that the suction cups orbells will be above the material being washed, and one object of myinvention. is to provide an improved construction for accomplishing thisresult. By my improved construction and arrangement the clutch whenoperated will move from in to out position only when the plunger rod isat the top of its stroke and the suction cups are above the material inthe tub being washed. Also when it moves to out position it effects theholding or locking of the plunger rod in such position.

But little force is required in normal operation to move the clutch fromone position to the other so that, so far as moving the clutch isconcerned, the operating means for it may be light in weight and simplein structure. However, it happens sometimes that with too much materialin the tub the washing machine stalls and when this happens the clutchwill be held in tightly. Under these circumstances to move the clucth toout position requires considerable force, and, if it is not amplystrong, the operating mechanism for the clutch may be bent or otherwisedamaged by the operator when trying to throw the clutch. Of course, thething the operator should do is to remove the material which is stallingthe machine but even though instructed to do so, often an operator willnot do it but rather will try to throw out the clutch. For this reasonclutch-operating" mechanisms have been made usually quite heavy but eventhen they have been damaged sometimes by the operator in trying to throwout the clutch when the machine was stalled. A further objectaccomplished by my invention is that the arrangement is such that theamount of force which can be exerted by the clutch-operating mechanismon the clutch is definitely limited so that in no case can the operatorinjure the clutchoperating mechanism in trying to throw the clutch out.This enables me to use a clutch operating mechanism which is light instructure without danger of its being injured.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improvedarrangement of clutch and driving shafts which is simple in structureand easy to assemble, and which provides good bearing surfaces for thevarious parts. I

For a consideration ofwhat I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is di rected to the accompanying description and the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with certain parts brokenaway, of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detailsectional view through the clutch and driving mechanism; Fig. 3 is adetail perspective View of the clutch; Fig. t is a vertical, sectionalView showing the parts in one position; Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig.4 showing the parts in another position; Fig. 6 is an end view of theoperating mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line7-7, Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates thetub of the washing machine, 2the frame in which it is mounted, 3 the legs, and 4 the casing orhousing which contains the operating mechanism of the machine. In thetub are the suction cups or bells 5 carried by a suitable yoke 6 whichin turn is attached to the plunger rod 7. Plunger rod 7 projects downthrough a tubular post 8 into casing or housing 4, a suitable packing(not shown) being provided at the point where it passes through the topof the easing to prevent leakage into the casing. The lower end ofplunger rod 7 is tubular as shown particularly in Figs. (3 and 7 and itslides on a guide post 9 which is supported at its lower end in a socket10 formed in a boss 11 on a wall of easing 4, the post being free toturn on its vertical axis in such socket. Suitably attached to the lowerend of plunger rod 7 is a spool or head 12 provided with a groove 13with which engage forks 14: on the end of an arm 15. Arm 15 is attachedto and forms a part of a cross head 16 which slides on a vertical guidepost 17 supported at its two ends in the top and bottom walls of easing4. Cross head 16 is provided with two fingers 18 (Fig. 7) which engageopposite sides of a rectangular bar 19 supported in the top and bottomwalls of the casing. This serves to hold the cross head from turning onpost 17 while permitting it to slide thereon. Spool or head 12 isprovided with opposed keys 20 which slide in vertical keyways. 21

in guide post 9. With this arrangement when cross head 16 isreciprocated on guide post 17 it moves the plunger rod 7 up and down,the keys 20 sliding in keyways 21, to

reciprocate the suction cups, and when On the lower end of cross head 16is a crank pin 22 connected by a link 23 to a crank pin 241- on the endof a crank arm 25. (See Fig. 2.) Crank arm 25 is carried by and in thepresent instance is shown as being formed integral with a hollow shaft26 journaled in a suitable bearing 27. Extending through shaft 26 andjournaled therein is a driving shaft 28 having a head 29 on its endwhich rests against the forward end of shaft 26. Beyond bearing 27 is asecond bearing 30 suitably supported from a wall of casing 1 and inwhich the other end of driving shaft 28 is journaled. Fastened on theend of driving shaft 28 is a bevel gear wheel. 31 which is fixed inposition by a pin 32. The hub of bevel gear wheel 31 engages the end ofbearing 30 so that when pin 32 is in position it serves not only toattach the bevel ear wheel to shaft 28 but also to hold shaft 8 inposition in its bearings and prevent it from moving axially.

Bevel gear wheel 31 is the wheel which drives the vertical wringer shaftfor effecting operation of the wringer. This shaft is not shown in thedrawing but the arrangement of such shafts is well understood in thisart. The arrangement may be for example, that shown in my Patent No.1,520,886, Dec. 30, 192st, or that, shown in my Patent No. 1,520,887,Dec. 30, 1924.

On shaft 28 adjacent to hearing 30 is a worm wheel 33 which is fixed tothe shaft by a pin 34. Meshing with worm wheel 33 is a worm 35 carriedby a shaft 36. Shaft 36 is journaled in suitable hearings in casing dand is driven by a suitable motor (not shown). Mounted on shaft orsleeve 26 is a clutch comprising a clutch collar 37 and a clutch pin 38adapted to enter an opening 39 in the web of worm wheel Clutch collar 37is fastened to shaft 26 by a key 40 so that it turns with the shaft butcan be moved axially on the shaft to bring pin 38 out of and into anopening 39. In the present instance two openings 39 are shown witheither of which the pin may engage.

\Vith the above described arrangement it will be seen that when themotor is running, worm 35 drives worm wheel 33 and the shaft 28 on whichthe worm wheel is mounted. If now the clutch is in in position as shownin Figs. 2 and at, the clutch pin 38 being in one of the openings 39,then the shaft or sleeve 26 will be connected to worm wheel 33 and willturn with it. This will turn crank 25 and through link 23 the cross head16 will be moved up and down thus imparting reciprocating movement toplunger rod 7 and the suction cups or bells carried by it. On the otherhand, when the clutch is thrown to out position, as indicated in Fig. 5,the clutch pin 38 being removed from openings 39, then shaft or sleeve26 will remain stationary, shaft 28 turning in the shaft or sleeve 26.

Now, according to one feature of my invention, I provide a spring meansfor throwing the clutch from in to out position and an operating meansfor storing up energy in the spring means, and I then arrange the springmeans and the operating means therefor so that the energy stored in thespring means will be suificient for throwing the clutch out only whenthe suction cups are above the material in the tub being washed and thecrank is passing over dead center at the upper end of the stroke of theplunger rod. In this connection it is pointed out that when the wormwheel is transmitting motion through the clutch to shaft 26 toreciprocate the plunger red, the clutch pin 38 is pressed against thesides of the opening 39 in which it is located with some force,particularly when the bells or suction cups are passing through thewater and clothes in the tub, so that friction tends to hold the pinagainst movement out of the opening. However, when the bells or suctioncups are above the water and clothes in the tub and crank arm 25 ispassing over dead center at the top of the stroke, the pressure on theclutch pin is relieved temporarily during the time the force acting onthe connecting rod changes from a tension force to a compression forceand at this time the pin can be moved easily from the opening. Itherefore provide a clutch operating means which when actuated to throwthe clutch to out position, stores up only enough energy in the springto throw the clutch to out position when there is little load beingtransmitted, which condition occurs, when washing is being done, at thetime when the crank is passing over dead center at the top of itsstroke. With this arrangement, therefor, no matter during what portionof the stroke the clutch-operating means is actuated, the clutch willnot release until the bells or suction cups are at the top of theirstroke. In connection with this arrangement, I pro vide also meanswhereby when the clutch throws out it serves to hold the bells orsuction cups in such top position.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, clutch collar 37 is providedwith an annular groove 41 in which is located a head 42 on the end of alever arm 43. Lever arm 43 is fastened on the lower end of a shaft 44which is pivoted in a wall of easing 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, thelower end of shaft 44 being inside the casing and the upper end outsidethe casing. In this con nection it will be noted that the casing hasbeen omitted in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 so as to illustrate the constructionmore clearly. Attached to the upper end of shaft 44 is a lever arm, 45which is located outside casing 4. In the end of lever arm 45 is anopening 46 through which projects freely one end of a connecting rod 47.The other end of connecting rod 47 is attached to a crank 48 on thelower end of an operating rod 49. Operating rod 49 is suitably journaledat its two ends in the frame of the washing machine as is indicated at50 and at its upper end is provided with an operating handle 51. On thelower end of crank 48 beneath the eye in connecting rod 47 through whichthe end of the crank projects is a washer 51 which when the crank isturned from one position to the other strikes the inner surface of thelower frame ring 51 to limit the throw of the crank. In other words,washer 51" cooperating with frame ring 51 serves as a stop for limitingthe throw of the crank. On connecting rod 47 is a washer 52 held by acotter pin 53 and located between washer 52 and the end of lever arm 45is a spring 54 which surrounds the rod. On the end of rod 47 is a washer55 held by a cotter pin. 56 which washer engages lever arm 45 on theside opposite to that which spring 54 engages.

In Fig. l the handle 51 is shown as being in its extreme left handposition at which time the clutch is in in position. The clutch is heldin this position by a spring pressed ball 57 which engages a depression58 in shaft 26. If now the machine is running and it is desired to throwout the clutch, handle 51 is moved toward the right as seen in Fig. 1.This turns crank 48 toward the left and moves connecting rod 47 towardthe left pushing spring 54 against the end of lever arm 45. Lever arm 45offers resistance to movement because of the pressure of clutch pin 38in opening 39 and as a result the end of connecting rod 47 will bepushed through opening 46, spring 54 being put under compression. Thisis shown in Fig. 4 where the operating handle is shown as having movedconnecting rod 47 to put spring 54 under compression to throw out theclutch. The clutch, however, is still in. Now, when the crank arm passesover dead center at the top of its stroke, the pressure of pin 38 inopening 39 will be relieved as already explained, whereupon spring 54will expand and quickly snap the clutch to out position. This is shownin Fig. 5 where it will be seen that the clutch has moved to outposition. Spring 54 is made of such strength and the throw of crank 48of such length that the turning of handle 51 from its one extremeposition to the other stores only sufficient force in spring 54 as tothrow the clutch out when there is little if any load on the mechanism,which when washing is being done means when the suction cups are abovethe materials in the tub.

Clutch collar 37 is provided with a surface 59 which when the clutchmoves to out position engages a surface 60 at one side of bearing 27 andit is held tightly against this surface by spring 54 which is arrangedso that it is still under compression to some extent when the clutch isout. This serves as a friction brake or lock to hold the crank arm (andhence the suction cups or bells) at the top of their stroke. At thistime spring pressed ball 57 engages a depression 61 in shaft 26 andassists somewhat in holding the clutch in braking position.

To throw the clutch in again, handle 51 is turned back to the left handposition whereupon the cotter pin 56 which engages the end of lever arm45, serves to effect a positive movement of lever arm 45, shaft andlever arm 43 to move the clutch to bring clutch pin 38 back into one ofthe openings 39. As seen in Fig. 3, there are curved recesses 62 leadingto openings 39 to guide the pins into them.

As pointed out above, the throw of handle 51 is limited by the washer51.. If the machine is stalled with the clutoh in, throw ing theoperating handle from in to out position will serve only to put spring54 under compression. No additional force can be put on the clutchoperating mechanism so that under these circumstances the materialstalling the machine must be removed before the clutch will open toenable the machine again to be put into opera tion.

Formed integral with crank arm 25- and shaft 26 is a gear wheel 63 whichmeshes with a gear wheel 64- pivoted on a stud (35 (Fig. 2) attached toa wall of housing 4. Projecting from the face of gear wheel ca is anactuating pin 66 and a locking segment 67. These cooperate withactuating slots 68 and locking slots 69 formed in the periphery of adisk 70. Disk 70 forms what may be termed a star wheel. Disk '70 isfastened on a transverse shaft 71 journaled in suitable bearings 72 and73 in the housing walls. On shaft 71 is a spiral gear wheel 7% whichmeshes with a spiral gear wheel fixed on the lower end of guide post 9.This mechanism serves to give a step by step turning movement to thesuction cups and operates as follows Gear wheel 63 turns with crank arm25 and each time the crank arm and gear wheel make one revolution, gearwheel (33 turns gear wheel 64 one revolution the two gear wheels beingthe same size. During the major portion of the revolution of gear wheel64, looking segment 67 lies in one of the locking slots 69 of star wheel70, looking it against turning movement. As locking segment 67 leaves aslot 69, actuatingpin 66 engages the adjacentactuating slot 68 and turnsstar wheel 70 through a definite angle. IVhen pin 66 leaves the slot 68,segment 67 engages the next locking slot (39 and again locks the starwheel 70 against movement. hen star wheel 70 turns, it turns shaft 71through the same angle and this through spiral gears 74 and 75 turnsguide post 9, plunger rod 7 and suction cups 5 through a correspondingangle. The arrangement is such that the suction cups are given thisturning movement at the top of the stroke while they are above thematerials in the tub which are being washed. During the remainingportion of the stroke they are locked against turning movement bylocking segment 67. This construction and arrangement for giving a stepby step turning movement is described only generally herein as it formsno part of the present invention. It is more fully disclosed and isclaimed in my aforementioned Patent No. 1,520,886.

At 76 is indicated a counter weight for crank arm 28 and at 77 isindicated an oil scraper which forms .a part of the lubricating systemfor the machine. The lubricatin system forms the subject matter of myapplication Sr. No. 716,252 filed of even date herewith.

In connection with the arrangement of shafts 26 and 28 and the partscarried thereby, it will be seen that they can be very quickly andeasily assembled. Shaft 26 may he slipped axially into its bearing 27and the key 40 and clutch 37 then mounted thereon. After this shaft 28can he slipped axially through shaft 26, Worm wheel and its bearing 30.Bevel gear wheel 31 may be then fastened in place, pin 32 serving tohold the parts assembled. Pin 3 may be then put into position to fastenworm wheel 33 to shaft 28. To dismantle the mechanism it is onlynecessary to remove pins 32 and 34 and then pull the shafts 26 and 28axially from their bearings.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have;described the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now considerto represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, 1s:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice, a' driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to anddisconnecting it from said device, and operating means for the clutch,said operating means including a spring member through which theoperating means moves the clutch.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a washing device which movesinto and out of engagement with the materials being washed, a drivingshaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to and disconnecting it fromsaid washing device, and operating means for moving the clutch, saidoperating means including a spring through which the operating meansmoves the clutch to out position, said spring being sufficiently strongto move the clutch to out position only when the washing device is notin contact with the materials being washed.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice which moves into and out of engagement with the materials beingwashed, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to and disconnecting it from said device, operating means for moving the clutch,and means whereby when the clutch is thrown. to out position it effectsholding of the washing device against movement.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice which moves into and out of engagement with the materials beingWashed, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to anddisconnecting it from said device, operating means for moving theclutch, said operating means including a spring in which power is storedfor moving the clutch to out position, and means of which the clutchforms a part for holding the washing device against movement when theclutch is thrown to out position.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice which moves into and out of engagement with the materials beingwashed, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to anddisconnecting it from said device, operating means for moving theclutch, said operating means including a spring in which power is storedfor moving the clutch to out position, the power stored in said springbeing sufiicient for moving the clutch to out position only when thewashing device is above the materials being washed, and means whichbecomes effective when the clutch is thrown to out position for holdingthe washing device in the position it occupies at the time the clutch isthrown out.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice which moves into and out of engagement with the materials beingwashed, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to anddisconnecting it from said device, a lever arm for moving the clutch, aspring which engages the lever arm, and operating means for throwing theclutch to out position through the intermediary of said spring, saidoperating means being capable of storing an amount of energy in thespring sufficient to throw the clutch to out position only when thewashing device is above the material being washed.

7. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice which moves into and out of engagement with the materials beingwashed, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the shaft to anddisconnecting it from said device, a lever arm for moving the clutch, aspring which engages the lever arm, operating means for storing energyin the spring for moving the clutch to out position, and means forlimiting the movement of said operating means.

8. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice, a driving shaft, a clutch for connecting the driving shaft toand disconnecting it from said washing device, means for positivelymoving the clutch to in position and a yielding spring through which itis moved to out position whereby the amount of el'lergy which can beapplied to move the clutch to out position is limited.

9. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice, means including a rotating element for imparting reciprocatingmovement to said washing device, a driving shaft, a clutch forconnecting the driving shaft to and disconnecting it from said rotatingelement, said clutch sliding on the rotating element, and a stationarymember wi h which the clutch engages when thrown to out position wherebyit serves to hold the rotating element from movement and thereciprocating device in a definite position.

10. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice, a rotating element for imparting reciprocating movement to it, adriving shaft, a clutch for connecting the rotating element to anddisconnecting it from said driving shaft, a lever arm for moving theclutch, said arm having an opening in its end, an actuating rod whichprojects through said opening, an abutment on said rod, and a springwhich at one end engages said abutment and at the other end engages theend of said arm.

11. In a washing machine, the combination of a reciprocating washingdevice, a rotating element for imparting reciprocating movement to it, adriving shaft, a clutch for connecting the rotating element to anddisconnecting it from said driving shaft, a lever arm for moving theclutch, said arm having an opening in its end, an actuated rod whichprojects through said opening, an abutment on said rod, a spring whichat one end engages said abutment and at the other end engages the end ofsaid arm, and means for limiting the movement of said rod whereby theenergy which may be stored in said spring will be sufficient to throwthe clutch out only when substantially no load is being transmittedthrough it.

12. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing, a bearingtherein, a hollow shaft journaled in said bearing, a driving shaftjournaled in the hollow shaft, a gear wheel on the driving shaft, and aclutch which slides on the hollow shaft to connect it to said drivingshaft, said clutch when in out position engaging the end of said bearing to hold the hollow shaft against movement.

13. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing, a bearingtherein, a hollow shaft journaled in said bearing, a driving shaftjournaled in the hollow shaft, a gear wheel on the driving shaft, aclutch which slides on the hollow shaft to connect it to said drivingshaft, said clutch when in out position engaging the end of said bearingto hold the hollow shaft against movement, and spring means in whichenergy is stored for quickly moving the clutch from in to out position.

14. In a washing machine, the combination of a bearing, a second bearingin spaced relation to the first bearing, a hollow shaft in said firstbearing, a second shaft which extends through said hollow shaft and thesecond bearing and is journaled therein, a head on the second shaftwhich engages the end of the first shaft, a gear wheel on the secondshaft located between the end of the hollow shaft and said secondbearing, a clutch on the hollow shaft for engagement with said gearwheel, and a pin in the end of the second shaft beyond the secondbearing for holding the structure assembled.

15. In a washing machine, the combination of a bearing, a second bearingin spaced relation to the first bearing, a hollow shaft in the firstbearing, a driving shaft which extends through the hollow shaft and thesecond bearing and is journaled therein, a head on the end of thedriving shaft which engages the end of the hollow shaft, a gear wheel onthe driving shaft between the end of a hollow shaft and the secondbearing, a gear wheel fastened on the end of the driving shaft beyondthe second bearing, and serving to hold the structure assembled, and aclutch on the hollow shaft which moves from engagement with the gearwheel into engagement with the end of the firstnamed hearing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28rd day of May,1924.

GEORGE E. HANDLES.

